How to Deal With a 'Bad' Game Jam Theme

You’re sitting at your computer, staring at the second hand
on the clock. It’s almost time. You’ve cleared your schedule. The next 48 hours
will be devoted to rapid game development, and you’ve never been more prepared
for anything else in your entire life. The second hand ticks, the game jam
begins, the theme is announced, and it’s terrible.

Shortly after the announcement of the theme: "Waffles As Weapons"

Having participated in my fair share of game jams, I can
promise you that it’s not nearly as terrible as you think it is. In fact, there
is actually no such thing as a ‘bad’ game jam theme. But before I convince you
of that, allow me to share a few tips that will help get those creative juices flowing
as quickly as possible.

Break it Down

If the theme consists
of more than one word, break it apart and tackle each word individually. You
may find that you only have a problem with one of the words in the theme. Start
with the words you’re the most comfortable with, then go from there.

Use a Dictionary

Words often have
multiple meanings, so make sure you fully understand the available
interpretations of a theme before dismissing it entirely.

Don’t Take it so
Literally

Suppose the theme is
“Eat the Potato”. Yes, you could make a game about a potato that needs to be
eaten, but how about an adventure game about a heroic potato named “Eat”? Don’t
be afraid to twist the meaning of a theme.

Setting vs Gameplay

The strongest way to
implement a theme is to work it into the gameplay. If you’re having
difficulties coming up with a gameplay idea, inject the theme into the setting
or story of your game instead. You may not end up with the most interesting
theme interpretation, but anything is better than giving up.

Take a Walk /
Exercise

A study by Charles
Hillman of the University of Illinois has shown an increase in brain function
after only 20 minutes of walking/exercise. You can think while walking, and
maybe you will even see something on your journey that sparks inspiration. And
if not, then the increased brain activity can only help you once you get back
to your computer.

Use the Internet

It seems so obvious,
but the internet is often taken for granted in situations like this. It’s the
single largest source of information on the planet, and the answer to your
problem is out there waiting to be discovered. Type the theme into Google and
search through the text, image, and video results. You WILL find something to
inspire you!

There ARE No ‘Bad’
Game Jam Themes

The most important thing to remember is that while you’re
struggling to accept the theme, someone else is already hard at work on an
amazing idea. The problem is NEVER the theme. The real issue is how you choose
to approach it. Some of the most critically and commercially successful games
of all time can be broken down into ‘bad’ themes if you try hard enough.

A game about being quiet, knitting a magical scarf, and sand surfing. Awesome.

So before you get angry at a theme announcement or throw
your hands up in the air in defeat, remember that you could be less than 48 hours
away from the greatest game you’ve ever made. You just haven’t thought of it
yet.